Lucan News 01.04.19 by Newsgroup

1st April 2019

RETURN WASTE COLLECTION TO STATE CONTROL South Dublin Mayor Mark Ward had a motion passed at the March Council meeting calling on local authorities to work together in returning the waste collection service back into state control.

Ward said: “I and the Sinn Fein group recently met with SIPTU and employees of South Dublin County Council (SDCC). After this meeting, I tabled the motion.” “I have had similar motions passed previously but this time I am calling for it to backed by a report by the CCPC (Competition and Consumer Protection Commission)” “There is a trend towards the

re-municipalisation of previously privatised services in the EU and globally and in particular in water, energy and waste. The mechanism used by the majority of local authorities in returning previously privatised services to public provision has been simply by not renewing the contract.” “As it states in the managers’ report Ireland’s domestic waste service is atypical. It is the exception within the EU as it persists with side by side competition. In fact Ireland is the only EU member that has sideby-side competition

in the domestic waste collection market and that 23% of households have no domestic waste collection service.” “SDCC has spent almost €6m on cleaning up illegal dumping over the last 4 years. If you add in the environmental impact of having multiple trucks which increases carbon emissions. There are also additional emissions and toxic pollutants if you take into consideration the illegal burning of waste.”

“The CCPC report found that the provision of our domestic waste collection service was a natural monopoly and

that the only home for a natural monopoly is for it to be provided by the state” “A fundamental shift has taken place over the last 40 years that saw the state’s role change to a procurer rather than a provider of services. There are approx. 6000 employed in the domestic waste service. Typically the rates of pay are poor. General operatives are on minimum wage and drivers in the region of €10- €13 per hour. The rates of pay are so low that the state often ends up subsidising them through FIS and other social supports to employees and their dependents.” “SIPTU would like to see happen and I support them fully is to eliminate side by side competition, establish a provider of last resort. An innovative approach to public enterprise that would see local authorities working together.” “This motion is calling for the CEO of SDCC to establish a review of the current tendering process with a view to: ending side-byside competition and furthermore calls upon the CEO to enter into discussions with the other Dublin County and City councils.

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FF WELCOMES TWO NEW COUNCILLORS IN SOUTH DUBLIN

Fianna Fáil (FF) has welcomed two new Councillors to the Party, both of whom sit on South Dublin County Council (SDCC). Cllr. Jonathan Graham joined Fianna Fáil recently after resigning from Sinn Féin last year, while Cllr. Deirdre O’Donovan, a former independent Cllr. became a member of the party a number of weeks ago. Cllr. Graham said, “I am delighted to join the Fianna Fáil organisation. I have a proud record in representing people in my local community over the past five years and look forward to continuing that work under the Fianna

Fáil banner. There are a range of issues affecting people living in north Clondalkin, South Lucan and Palmerstown and I will work alongside my Fianna Fáil colleagues on SDCC to deliver on key issues such as housing and crime prevention”. Cllr. O’Donovan added, “I’m honoured to contest the local elections in the FirhouseBohernabreena LEA for Fianna Fáil. We have an extremely strong ticket and I have been delighted by the reception that me and my colleagues have been receiving on the door. I am

a proud Knocklyon native, and have been working in the locality as a Councillor and community activist for many years. I’m looking forward to continuing that work as a Fianna Fáil representative and securing a seat for the Party in May”.

Fianna Fáil offering. “The party is seeking to increase the gains we made in the last local elections in

2014 and I wish all of the candidates in Dublin and around the country every success in aiming to ensure

that we build on our current representation and solidify our position as the largest party in local government”.

DAFFODIL DAY 2019

Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin commented, “I am very pleased to welcome Jonathan and Deirdre to the Party. They will add significantly to our team on SDCC. “Their decision to join the party provides a great boost to members both locally and nationally, and is a clear indication of the widespread appeal of the

Published by: Newsgroup, Unit 3 Floor 2 St. Dominics Shopping Centre, St. Dominics Road, Tallaght, Dublin, D24 HK49. Titles: Tallaght News, Clondalkin News, Lucan News and Rathcoole & Saggart News Distributed by: Local Post Co. Printed by: Meath Chronicle Contact Details: Website www.newsgroup.ie

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Marie Dunkan from Clondalkin pictured supporting the Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day. Daffodil Day is proudly supported by Boots Ireland. Picture Andres Poveda

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SOUTH DUBLIN SUPPORT NATIONAL BRAIN AWARENESS WEEK

Mayor of South Dublin Mark Ward had a motion passed calling for increased investment in neurological services in Ireland in support of National Brain Awareness Week . Mayor Ward went public last year with his battle with Multiple Sclerosis and completed the Dublin City Marathon to

raise awareness about the condition. Cllr Ward said: “I am supporting the ‘Invest in Neurology’ campaign which was launched in conjunction with National Brain Awareness Week. The campaign is calling on the government to tackle unacceptable staffing deficits and invest in neurology centres nationwide and

TALLAGHT STUDENTS BRING COLOUR TO ART COMPETITION

improve access to critical tests such as a MRI” “I am one of over 800,000 Irish people who are living with neurological conditions, such as migraine, epilepsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and rare and genetic neurological conditions” “In 2005 my life was turned upside down when I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. I had spent a number of years prior to this being misdiagnosed and not diagnosed at all. “

“After diagnosis the standard of care and assistance I received from the HSE was almost non-existent. When someone is diagnosed like me with an incurable progressive neurological condition like MS, the psychological impact can be immense.” “In my case this resulted in depression as I was afraid to say I was afraid. We don’t do that where I come from or at least I thought we didn’t. I hadn’t got the capacity to articulate how I was feeling and became quite ill. This also led to a deterioration with my physical health. I was on a walking stick and was constantly fatigued and in pain” “Findings from a 2016 audit of Ireland’s neurology services found that Irish hospitals are struggling with chronic underinvestment in neurology

Bronagh Carron, responsible for the Texaco Children’s Art Competition, is pictured during the judging of entries in this year¹s competition the results of which will be announced mid-April. In her hand is an entry by 9-year old Hannah Mullen from Scoil Treasa, Firhouse entitled ‘Hot Fudge Sundae’ and another by 16-year old Reece Fitzgerald from St Joseph’s School, Tallaght entitled ‘The Under Water World’. Some 5,531 students from Dublin are amongst those from all parts of Ireland who are taking part in the Competition the 65th year of the event. Prizes will be presented at a ceremony in May.

services and are totally underequipped to deal with the current and future demand. Decades of underinvestment resulted in the lowest ratio of consultant neurologists per head of population in the developed world. This is just unacceptable.” “I have managed to accept my condition and have learned to live with it. I have changed my lifestyle and my perception of MS. Instead of limiting me I feel that having MS has enabled me to treat every day as a new day and gives me the strength to pursue social changes.” “This psychic change did not happen because of any intervention from the HSE. My family, friends and assistance from the MS Society was the catalyst for this change.” “I only went public with my diagnosis last year. I am in a position now that I feel my story may help others, especially those with recent diagnosis” “I ran the Dublin City Marathon last year to raise awareness for this campaign and also some much needed funds for the MS Society. Crossing the finishing line was one of the most emotional moments of my life and to see my children waiting for me is a memory I will never forget.”

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SDCC NEEDS TO BE PROACTIVE IN ENSURING URBAN CEMETERIES HAVE SUFFICIENT SPACE FOR GRAVE PLOTS

Just four of the seventeen cemeteries in South Dublin have space available for burial services. Cllr. Charlie O’Connor has warned that South Dublin County Council must be proactive

in identifying appropriate land to develop burial ground to ensure there are sufficient Grave spaces in the coming years. The Election Candidate in Dublin South

West was commenting having obtained information from the Council’s Chief Executive which indicates that only two of the four cemeteries in South County Dublin operated by the council

LUCAN WOMEN CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

This International Women’s Day, Lucan women gathered to hear a very special guest speaker tell her story. South Dublin Chamber of Commerce President, entrepreneur, Margaret Considine shared told her unique story at a coffee morning in Kenny’s of Lucan. The event, organised

by local Councillors Emer Higgins and Vicki Casserly, was themed thinking equal, building smart and innovating for change. “We were delighted to host the event which heard from an especially inspiring speaker.

Margaret Considine is President of the South Dublin

Chamber of Commerce and of Mediators Institute of Ireland. She’s also a successful entrepreneur, a local employer, a wife and a mum. Her personal and career story captured everyone there and her words of wisdom encouraged women to realise their full potential,” said Cllr. Emer

Higgins. “Confidence is one of the biggest barriers for women. Unfortunately, society has a way of undermining confidence in women and that’s why all of us, both men and women, need to support and encourage the women around us.The message from our event was believe in yourself and embrace opportunities,” concluded Cllr. Emer Higgins. “Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate International Women’s Day,” said Cllr. Vicki Casserly. “It was lovely to spend the day with such an incredible equality advocate and members of my local community. The message of the day was be yourself and the best you can be,” concluded Vicki Casserly.

have undeveloped sections to provide for future burial plots.

Cllr O’Connor said, “Over the next decade the demand for burial plots will inevitably rise but as we now know only four cemeteries have grave space available for purchase; Bohernabreena, Saggart, Newcastle and Esker. “There is limited land available in our county and it already comes at a high cost given its urban strategic value. It would therefore only make logical sense that the Local Authority would get planning so that we don’t reach a point in the near future when suddenly people are passing away and families cannot fulfil their wish to bury their loved one locally. “There are currently a total of 1,236

spaces left for purchase in South County Dublin. To put that in perspective, in 2016 there were 1,220 registered deaths of people living in our county. “A number of private facilities have begun to emerge but it’s worrying that there is no undeveloped section to provide for future needs in either Bohernabreena or Saggart while Esker cemetery is close to full capacity. “I am concerned that the Council have told me this month it does not envisage that further lands will be acquired; this is shortsighted given the lack of space that has already been identified. There is a threat of running out of urban land for burial services and especially as our local population steadily increases,” he concluded.

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SOUTH STAND OF TALLAGHT STADIUM OPENS

The Mayor of South Dublin County Cllr Mark Ward was joined by Donal Conway, President of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), and Daniel McLoughlin, Chief Executive of South Dublin County Council (SDCC), in Tallaght Stadium on 25th March, to officially open the new South Stand of Tallaght Stadium. The official opening of the new stand coincided with Stephen Kenny’s first match in charge of the Republic

of Ireland under-21’s international football team as they took on Luxemburg in the UEFA European Championship qualifiers.

The South Stand now brings the capacity of Tallaght Stadium to 8,000 and further enhances its reputation as one of the premier sporting facilities in the country. In the decade since opening its doors in 2009, Tallaght Stadium has increased capacity, improved facilities and provided

the home ground for all Shamrock Rovers’ games in the Airtricity League.

Tallaght Stadium has hosted many prestigious events, such as the Special Olympics’ Opening Ceremony in 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid debut, many memorable nights in Europe for Shamrock Rovers and international football matches. Tallaght Stadium has also been chosen as a host venue for the UEFA European U/17

Championship, being held in Ireland from the 3rd to 19th May 2019. There are sixteen teams taking part in the tournament, with seven games to be played in Tallaght, including a quarter-final, semi-final and the Final on Sunday 19th May. Building on the success of Tallaght Stadium, SDCC commissioned a further feasibility report from Cooney Architects in 2018 that explored the option of developing a new North Stand in Tallaght Stadium and boosting capacity to 10,000. Mayor of South Dublin, Cllr Mark Ward, said, “I am delighted to represent SDCC on this special afternoon to officially open the South Stand of the stadium. I want to commend the staff in the Council for what they have achieved in the past number of year with the development of the stadium.

U21 Ireland V Luxembourg at Tallaght Stadium

I know there are very exciting plans for expanding the stadium even further with a new fourth stand and I’m sure the years ahead will bring similar success.”

VOTER REGISTRATION NIGHT

Cllr Timmons is asking those over 18 to exercise their democratic right to vote. The Cllr. has organised a voter registration night on the 11th of April. in Knockmitten from 6:30pm to 7:30pm and from 5:15pm to 6:15pm in Bawnogue Community Centres. Those wishing to register must bring ID and proof of address. The type of election you can vote in depends on

your citizenship. The following people are eligible to vote: Irish citizens can vote in every election and referendum. British citizens may vote at Dáil, European and local elections. Other EU citizens may vote at European and local elections. And non-EU citizens can vote at local elections only. For further information please contact info@francistimmons.com

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CASSERLY TO CONTEST LOCAL ELECTIONS IN LUCAN

Recently Lucan Cllr, Vicki Casserly was formally selected to contest the upcoming local elections for Fine Gael along with Caroline Brady. Cllr Casserly commented “4 and a half

years ago, I stood in front of the Dublin Mid West Constituency, as a new candidate. New to politics, but not new to my role as an advocate. I stood before residents seeking trust and

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THE FIANNA FAIL TEAM IN DUBLIN SOUTH WEST Cllr Charlie O’Connor, Declan Burke, Teresa Costello, John Lahart TD, Cllr Paul Foley and Cllr Emma Murphy

confidence to allow me to commence my journey to be elected as Fine Gael Cllr for the Lucan Ward.

Casserly added “I look back on my first council meeting, I wanted to set out my stall as they say and demonstrate I was true to my word from the outset. I was elected on my strengths, one of them being empathy and full understanding of the meaning of equality and diversity and how important that is in the formation of an inclusive community. My very first motion was to call on the Chief Executive to host a civic reception for local sporting heroes. However, this was to include, which had not been done previously, Paralympians, special Olympians, and Women’s Rugby Team. My motion passed unanimously cross party. And so, my journey began”. Casserly has five pillars in which she works by 1. Family, 2. Accessibility, 3. Inclusion, 4. Recreation and 5. Amenities. The local Cllr. accepted positions on many

committees in South Dublin County Council which she felt she could utilize best for the local area. Vicki added “I sat on the Community and Sports, Strategic Policy Committee, South Dublin Sports Partnership Committee, 300K Have Your Say and The Dublin Mid Leinster Regional Health Forum, to which I was the only female chairperson in the 5 year term. These committees played an integral role in assisting me evolving the face of Lucan and our county” One of Casserly’s main pillars accessibility is vital to her work in the community, she said “We developed a text alert system for misuse of accessible parking bays in the village, we are trialing new signage, indicating narrowing of footpaths which cannot be made wider, with directional signage to a safer route. I called on South Dublin County Council to consider guidance strips in the village to assist with those with visual impairments. I carved a role for myself as the strongest advocate

in the chambers for these improvement measures and I am proud to stay, I have not had any motion defeated on the grounds of my progressive, inclusive agenda. This is a challenge in a left lead council which is no mean feat.” Inclusion is also a key point, with delivering equality in education Casserly is an advocate for people with special needs and campaigns for equality in every walk of life. Casserly also had a part to play in social change which is evident from involvement in national campaigns such as the debate for repealing the 8th amendment and becoming a Barretstown Ambassador, she concluded “I have played a role in national campaigns too, although challenging, I understood it was the role I could play for social change. This included respectful debates around Repeal the 8th, the passing of the Marriage Equality Bill, Barretstown Ambassador and Cara Ambassador promoting inclusion in

sport. It was an honour to be a keynote speaker with Minister Charlie Flanagan and Minister Brendan Griffin at the Aviva Stadium on these issues and I believe it has led to positive change.” Cllr. Vicki Casserly will seek Lucan resident’s No. 1 vote in the upcoming May local elections, so that she can continue the work she does not just within the area of disabilities but within the Lucan area in which she has lived all her life, now with husband Dan and two children.

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SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL’S ANNUAL ROAD WORKS PROGRAMME

At the recent South Dublin County Council’s Annual Road Works Programme was delivered to elected members to outline how much the Council plans to spend on roadworks and footpath repairs throughout the year. The programme also lists

the locations of planned repairs and estimates the individual costs of these repairs. Of significant note, €140,000 is earmarked for roadworks on the Nangor Road in Clondalkin, €205,000 will be spent on the Ballinscorney Road (R114) and €65,000 for footpath

repair in various locations of Lucan’s Esker Meadow Estate. This represents an approximate increase of 12% in spending by the Council when compared to the 2018 Annual Road Works Programme.

Minister Regina Doherty toured the €80m Mountpark

Logistics site in Baldonnel recently with local

Councillors Emer Higgins, Kenneth Egan, Vicki Casserly and MEP Candidate, Frances Fitzgerald T.D. The Minister was extremely impressed by the facility, the creation of local jobs and the state-of-the-art fit out of the site. Local Councillor Emer Higgins said: “Already 740 people have been employed here as part of the construction phase, and as a County we’ll be benefiting from €2.3m in developer fees to the Council.

The main features of the

investment programme include:€1,095,000 for the Clondalkin Area, €912,000 for the Lucan Area, €600,000 for Tallaght Central, €548,000 for Tallaght South, €679,000 for the Rathfarnham Area and €575,000 for TempleogueTerenure Michael Mulhern,

DOHERTY TOURS MOUNTPARK LOGISTICS €80M SITE

I led the campaign to allow these lands be developed and am delighted to see the progress that’s been made on the site. It’s fantastic to hear that two such reputable tenants are coming in to our area and

South Dublin Council Council’s Director of Land Use, Planning and Transportation, said, “We are very happy to deliver this programme of works and announce the 12% increase in overall spending. Roads and footpaths that are well-maintained reduce

journey times for our citizens and, crucially, are safer for us all to travel on. This increase shows the Council’s commitment to promoting healthier lifestyles and delivering the highest possible standards for our citizens and anyone visiting our County.”

generating more jobs. Fine Gael worked cross-party with Sinn Fein to ensure this development was possible and that these jobs were created.” Mountpark Logistics has just announced an agreement, with leading pharmaceutical distributor, United Drug, to lease one of its’ €40m logistics warehouses built in Baldonnel. United Drug is the second tenant secured by Mountpark, with Home Store and More already confirmed to lease the other €40m logistics unit. “This is a good news story for our County and I wish Mountpark, United Drug and Home Store and More every success here,” concluded Cllr. Emer Higgins.

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HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD LEARN TO TELL THE TIME Learning to tell the time is one of the most common maths worries we come across at Kip McGrath. Many children struggle with this skill, especially when it comes to learning minutes to the hour. The order for learning the time is o’clock, half past, quarter past, quarter to, 5-minute intervals and then 1-minute intervals. Your child also needs to master analogue (telling the time on a clock face) and digital time. At Kip McGrath we break down all the elements of telling the time into manageable stages. It is important that your child practises each stage as much as possible to reinforce their learning and also that they understand what a valuable skill telling the time is. Make sure you have a least one simple clock in your house with a minute and hour hand and clear numbers on the dial. It is also a sensible idea to buy your child a simple wrist watch so they can tell the time with you in everyday situations such as knowing what time school starts and ends. Here are some good online, interactive resources to help your child practise telling the time: Nessy Clock Island - Clock Island is an interactive program that uses strategies to show you how to tell the time. On Time - Set the hands of the clock to answer the questions. 4 levels take your child through the different stages of learning to tell the time. Time Keeper - Burt the Bird wants to help you fix your clocks. Pick the clock that shows the correct time. There are four different difficulty levels If you feel your child would benefit from the individual support of a qualified teacher instead, or it’s difficult to find the time to try these online resources yourself, don’t hesitate to call the team at Kip McGrath!

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QUALITY OF REPLIES GIVEN BY SDCC TO COUNCILLORS MUST IMPROVE

Robert Dowds, the Labour local election candidate for the Clondalkin ward, has called on South Dublin County Council (SDCC) to greatly improve the quality of the answers given to county councillors in council meetings. He made his comments after reading the replies given to councillors at the Clondalkin Area Meeting of 20th March last.

One example Dowds gave was a response to a question from his colleague, Cllr. Breeda Bonner, about the need for a new road intersection immediately west of Rathcoole on to the N7. The reply is as follows: ‘The first section of this road will be

delivered if a proposed application receives Planning Permission. This will give residents in Rathcoole an option for access to the N7. There are no plans in the short to medium term to plan or deliver the remainder of the road’.

What’s wrong with this answer is primarily that it gives no information about what sort of access may be given to the N7. Will it be just a slip road on to the N7 which would be of limited value as that would only give access to those heading in the Naas direction or will it be a full intersection with a bridge across the N7 thus allowing drivers to access the side of the N7

heading towards Dublin? Another example is a motion concerning the need for repairs to Clondalkin Swimming Pool from Cllr. Timmons and, indeed, three other councillors. While the council acknowledges that repairs are needed the answer is extremely vague as to when the repairs are likely to be done. Given that four councillors raised this issue, it shows that it’s an issue bothering a lot of the public. Dowds concluded “I could give other examples but I’ll leave it at that. A proper functioning democracy requires a better response than this. Come on South Dublin. You can do better than this”.

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SAND BASED PITCHES OPEN IN FIRHOUSE WIN WIN WIN

Mayor of South Dublin County Council (SDCC) Cllr. Mark Ward officially opens the recently completed sand based pitches and performs the sod turning for the imminent upgrade of the adjacent pitch at Firhouse.

The sand based sports pitches are the first of their kind to be built by South Dublin in the county. They

were designed by Sports Labs Ltd. and constructed by CRL. Sand based pitches are specifically designed to cater for maximum use, to provide for active recreation and encourage active lifestyles.

The imminent upgrade of the adjacent pitch was designed by STRI Ltd. and will be constructed over the coming months

by Haffey Sports Grounds Ltd. Speaking at the event Mayor of SDCC Cllr. Mark Ward said: “The sand based pitches represent a considerable investment by South Dublin County Council in active recreation in the county, underlining the Council’s commitment to the provision of sports facilities and underpinning our support for the health and welling being of the

citizens of the county.” Mr Peter Lougheed CoChairman of Firhouse Carmel Football Club, who are the current users of the pitches under license from SDCC said “Firhouse Carmel FC has been one of the cornerstones of the community in Firhouse since 1974 offering soccer to children from the ages of 5 to 18 and we are delighted with the continued investment from the Council in the area. These pitches will be used for our Academy and smallsided games teams up to the age of 12 and we have over 180 children of our 300 members facilitated in these teams.

Win with Newsgroup and Reform Personal Training Looking to get in shape for the summer? Reform Personal Training in Bawnogue, Clondalkin would like to offer one lucky lady a chance to win an amazing prize of 12 semi private personal training sessions to get you in shape and fit for the summer time! The training facility allows you to book into times that suit you and your schedule and help you feel comfortable working out in their female only gym! To enter please email your name, phone number and address to info@newsgroup.ie by Tuesday the 9th of April 2019. T & C’s apply.

The development of the Academy has been one of the success stories of our club over the past six years and the superb quality of the playing surface will afford the players the best opportunity to showcase their skills and enjoy the games.” Pictured Mayor of South Dublin County Council Cllr. Mark Ward with members of Firhouse Carmel FC

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GAELFORCE DUBLIN GREAT SUCCESS South Dublin County Council (SDCC) and South Dublin Chamber, in partnership with Killary Gaelforce held the third annual Gaelforce Dublin event recently. Over 600 brave souls, kayaked, cycled and ran their way through a challenging course in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains. Glorious weather greeted the competitors at the starting point in Tallaght Stadium, with participants choosing to take on the 29km or 49km routes.With competitors starting at Tallaght Stadium, running through Sean Walshe Park, cycling a demanding uphill route to Bohernabreena Reservoir where each competitor faced a kayaking challenge on the reservoir surrounded its beautiful landscapes. From there competitors took on Kippure Mountain with its panoramic views of South Dublin before returning to the finish line at Tallaght Stadium.

Frank Nevin, Director of Service for SDCC’s Economic, Enterprise and Tourism

Development Department, said, “We are delighted to have brought Gaelforce Dublin back to our county for another year. The continued success of the event is a testament to the Council’s Tourism Strategy and to our ongoing collaboration with South Dublin Chamber.” Ciara Young, Director of Killary Gaelforce, said, “We are in awe of the amazing achievement of all the competitors from last Saturday’s Gaelforce Dublin, from the first to the last person over the finish line it is a tough challenge! The event really showcases how lucky we are to have such beautiful landscapes so close to the city.” The Male 49km race was won by Shane Scully in a time of 2:18:15 and the Female 49k race was won by Áine Mahony in a time of 2:53:26. The Male 29km race was won by Patrick Fitzgerald in a time of 1:34:26 and the Female 29k race was won by Orlaith Smith in a time of 1:50:24.

METROLINK SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO RATHFARNHAM, KNOCKLYON AND FIRHOUSE Following the recent announcement by assertions from both the NTA and Transport the National Transport Authority (NTA) to terminate the new Metrolink at Charlemont, Fine Gael TD Colm Brophy is calling for the areas of Rathfarnham, Knocklyon and Firhouse to be serviced by Metrolink now that the original route is not going ahead. “I am asking the NTA to examine the possibility of diverting the existing boring machines from Charlemont to the areas of Rathfarnham, Knocklyon and Firhouse in order to extend the proposed metro service to people living in Dublin South West. “For many years these parts of Dublin South West have not been well serviced by public transport. With significant new housing developments coming on stream in areas such as Ballycullen and Stocking Lane there is now more than ever a real opportunity to have a metro service for Dublin South West. “Traditionally we have heard repeated

SIVE WITH CLONDALKIN DRAMA GROUP Tickets are on sale now for Clondalkin Drama Group’s upcoming production of Sive. Set against the harsh poverty and difficult times of 1950s Ireland, Sive caused considerable controversy on its debut in February 1959.

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Infrastructure Ireland that there is not enough demand for a Metro service to this area. “Having spoken to local people and knowing the pressure on existing public transport, I challenge this assertion. “The success of the Luas Green line is a testament to the idea that if quality public transport alternatives are provided then people will use them. And this means more people leaving the car at home which is exactly what we should be promoting as we seem to mitigate Ireland’s emissions. “I really think we can be more ambitious with Metrolink and it can serve more commuters than is currently envisaged. “A detailed analysis of the population in the Dublin South West area needs to be conducted to ascertain the viability of the providing a Metro service for local commuters there.”

Since then it has become an established part of Ireland’s theatrical canon. In a remote area

of North Kerry, the play tells the story of the promise in marriage, of the young and beautiful Sive to an old man. Dates: 21st - 25th May, 7pm. **16’S AND OVER**. Takes place in the Quinlan’s Blacklion Public House. Tickets: €5 on opening night, €10 per person every other night. Tickets available in

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FUND THE FUTURE WALKOUT

Pictured at Tallaght University on the occasion of the Fund the Future Walkout was: Councillor Charlie O’Connor, Student Union President Amy Keatinge and students of the University.

TECH APPRENTICESHIP IN CYBERSECURITY Fastrack to Information Technology (FIT CLG) is a not-for-profit, industry-led organisation which works in close collaboration with government departments, national education and training agencies, local development organisations and a host of community based organisations. FIT’s mission is to promote an inclusive Smart Economy by creating routes to marketable technical skills for underrepresented tech talent. Established in 1999, FIT’s initiative is to develop and promote technology-based programmes and career development opportunities for those who may have become detached from the labour market in an increasingly knowledge-based economy. Since then, FIT has expanded substantially and now operates nationwide and are Ireland’s appointed coordinating providers of the National Tech Apprenticeships at Level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications. These Apprenticeships aim to attract and grow the talent pipeline by providing training in Software Development; Network Engineering and Cybersecurity. Working in collaboration with delivering partners Dublin Dublin & Dún Laoghaire Education & Training Board, a Tech Apprenticeship in Cybersecurity is starting in the coming weeks. Submit your application online at www.fit.ie.

For more information contact FIT at techappprenticeship@fit.ie or call directly at (01) 8825570.

“I have always had an interest in the IT industry but was unsure of how to get my foot in the door, The apprenticeship programme provided me with the knowledge and hands on experience I needed to develop my skills to meet industry standards, Being an apprentice is an exciting position as you are always learning and striving to improve your skills” Matthew Cook, Network Engineer Apprentice with Definitive Solutions.

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COLLINSTOWN PARK COMMUNITY COLLEGE TAKES PART IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY CHALLENGE

More than 200 Students from Collinstown Park Community College in Clondalkin have been embracing energy efficiency. The budding energy enthusiasts completed a workshop that was run by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and a five-day energy efficiency challenge that was organised by Microsoft and SSE Airtricity. Pupils from first and fourth year took part in SEAI workshops, which focused on climate change, sustainability, addressing the causes and global impacts of climate change, and renewable and nonrenewable technologies. The students also took part in a five-day energy efficiency challenge as part of Microsoft’s community engagement programme. SSE Airtricity, Ireland’s largest generator of 100 percent green energy, provided the learning materials and practical advice to help drive discussion among

the learners. Each day, transition year students acted as leaders and led discussions on various sustainability topics including: recycling, water conservation, home, technology, and food.

The discussions focused on ways the efficiencyenthusiasts could bring energy efficient tips and tricks into their home and daily lives. Pupils of Collinstown Park Community College were invited to take part in energy challenges, this included a ‘Power Down Day’ – a 24hour period where children where challenged to avoid using all technology and social media. Students were also invited to take part in a competition showcasing how they used the tips they learnt during the week to make their lives more energy efficient. Winners of the competition will be announced at an Energy Efficiency Evening which will be

held at 7pm on Thursday 4 April at Collinstown Park Community College. Microsoft, who have a strong relationship with the school through their community engagement programme, recently funded a deep retrofit of the school’s energy infrastructure. The project, which was carried out by SSE Airtricity and

granted funding by the SEAI, involved installing 30 solar panels on the roof and upgrading all lighting throughout the campus to high efficiency LED lights. The retrofit resulted in 110,000 kWH of energy savings per year and will cut the school’s annual electricity bill by more

than 50 percent. Cliona Mohan Transition Year Head commented ‘The Generation Green leaders in transition year really rose to the challenge and managed to engage students from both year groups in the debate about the environmental issues facing us all. Awareness of sustainability

and eco issues were reinforced in both Geography and Science classes during the week. Many students participated enthusiastically in the competition, combining their artistic skills with their now deeper knowledge of how they could be part of the change rather than part of the problem’.

Pictured Adam Tiernan, Alex Serry, Victory Luke, Cliona Mohan, Jessica Dunne, Oisin Burke, SSE Airtricity, Emmanuel Bankole, Alicia Loftus and Emmanuel Bankole. PIC: Joe Keogh

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STUDENTS TAKE PART IN SDCC ENGINEERS WEEK

Recently, almost 1,800 students from primary and secondary schools across South Dublin County took part in a variety of events for Engineers Week 2019. The events were held by a number of local organisations in order to celebrate the world of engineering. Engineers

Week is a week-long festival of nationwide events to engage primary and secondary students and to promote engineering as an exciting future for them to consider and what a week it was! From listening to our industry visitors to taking part in a “Rocket Launch”, the TUDublin Tallaght campus has seen it all. The

Opening Ceremony was hosted by Principal Thomas Stone, welcomed industry influencers such as Shirley McDonald of Engineers Ireland, Sean Keating CEO of Vilicom, Niamh Murphy, Projects Commercial Manager PM Group, Peng Lim Director of Mixed Signal Design at Xilinx and Caitriona Lambert, Senior

Pupils from Scoil Maelruain, Tallaght taking on the K’Nex Challenge in County Library, Tallaght.

Executive Engineer, SDCC to talk to the students about their journey and experience within their sector. The keynote speech was delivered by Donagh Kelly Group Deputy CEO KN circet Group and founder of KN Group. Each day throughout the week a number of events took place across the county, organised by five partner organisations; TUDublin – Tallaght, South Dublin County Council, PM Group, Xilinx and Vilicom. Primary school pupils enjoyed a “hands-on” learning activity based in the advanced Xilinx plant in Citywest, building electronic circuits and experimenting with Virtual Reality and Machine Learning technologies. They recorded and distorted their voices, learned how to transmit radio signals, and even played music using bananas! TUDublin Tallaght hosted a ‘Women in Engineering’ seminar and three young women, Tatenda Mudehwe, Rachel Dunwoody, and Aoife Maria Ryan described their contribution to this dynamic

PM Group hosted six construction workshops for primary schools using LEGO and included a tour of Tallaght Stadium. In conjunction with South Dublin County Council, they also hosted a public lecture at RUA RED Arts Centre

about the new Waste-toEnergy Facility at Poolbeg in Ringsend, which handles all of the non-recyclable waste in the Greater Dublin Area. The construction of this facility was project managed by PM Group. In all, 1,786 pupils from both primary and secondary schools were engaged during the week. 2019 was the 11th year of Engineers Week in South Dublin County. The week aims to promote engineering to primary and secondary school students through locally organised events, challenges, lectures and activities.

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Christine Murphy Slimming World Tallaght Plaza Hotel Plaza Hotel Belgard Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24. Times: Saturday Mornings: 7:30am (New session), 9.00 am & 11.00am Mobile: 086 088 5142

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industry. South Dublin County Council hosted ten primary school classes at County Library, Tallaght for K’Nex Workshops and invited a further 770 primary school children to three engineering adventure roadshows at Tallaght Stadium.

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CONCERN OVER CLONDALKIN MENTAL RAISED BY THE VILLAGE - CALL OUT HEALTH SERVICES

By Cathy Lee

Clondalkin councillors have raised their concerns over a proposed move of the community adult mental health team from Clondalkin to Tallaght. The potential move to Glenabbey, Tallaght was announced after the HSE declared the operational building in Clondalkin village was unfit for purpose. Clondalkin councillors passed a motion at their March meeting expressing their desire for services to continue in Clondalkin village, and stay there. The motion pledged that councillors would write to all the relevant authorities to express their concern about the potential move. It read that “the services provided

by the team are absolutely essential and so is the location at which they are accessed. This committee agrees that all services need to be retained in the Clondalkin area”. Cllr Madeleine Johansson representing People Before Profit described the service as “vital” and said that the move is “deeply concerning” for the community. She thought particularly of those without the means to travel who need to use the service. She said that the move will further restrict services, affecting those in the community who need it the most and is now pleading with the HSE to reverse the decision and find an alternative location in Clondalkin immediately.

CALLS FOR BAN ON CAMPAIGN POSTERS

Alan Edge, Independent who will run in the upcoming local elections has contacted fellow local election candidates calling for a total ban on election posters. Edge has sent letters to fellow candidates Cllr Francis Duffy, Cllr Sarah Holland, Cllr Brian Lawlor, Cllr Emma Murphy, Cllr Deirdre O’ Doherty. Candidates Aideen Carbury, Rob Hunter and Jess Spears asking for support for a poster free LEA of

Firhouse – Bohernabreena. Alan is standing for the LEA of BohernabreenaFirhouse as an Independent Candidate on May 24th.

As a first-time candidate Alan is aware that a poster less campaign is to his disadvantage but deems it worth the risk to protect our environment. If a full ban is not agreed, Alan has also put forward a pledge to limit poster usage and a commitment to; No Posters

in rural areas, No Posters within 100 metres of rivers and streams, Removal of all cable ties and Recycle all posters. Actively involved in environmental and social issues, this call to action was spurred on when Alan found a decaying election poster in Dodder River while volunteering in the Dodder action group recently. At time of print Cllr Francis Duffy was the only candidate to respond to Alan’s request.

Is your teenager in danger of going off the rails? Raised by the village is a new hit RTE One format which sees troublesome teenagers swap city living and their parents’ rules for a week’s dose if discipline Irish village style.

Are you at the end of your tether? WAKA TV are on the lookout for embattled parents who think their teen could benefit from a change of scenery. Swapping life under Mam and Dad to be ‘Raised by the Village’ in one of Ireland’s closest knit rural

communities.

As the old saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child and they want to give two city teens the opportunity to reboot their bad behaviour and turn lives around with the help and support of an entire community. So if you would like your teen to realise there is more to life than snapchat and backchat, selfies and selfishness they’d love to hear from you! Contact Ruth Roden on info@wakatv.ie or call 01 6343732

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CLONDALKIN HANDCRAFT & HORTICULTURAL SHOW 2019

The annual event held in Clondalkin will return this June. The Clondalkin Handcraft & Horticultural Show celebrated a fantastic event in 2018 and will return on the 29th of June in Newlands Home & Garden Centre and on the 30th of June in Aras Chronain. Cllr Francis Timmons, Chairperson said ‘’I

am honoured to be the Chairman of a great event that I attended when I was a kid. Clondalkin Handcraft & Horticultural Show had another great year in 2018 and is going from strength to strength. We won an award at the South Dublin County Council, Community

Endeavour awards 2018. the Gradam Cultuir agus Oidreacht na hEireann, this is the heritage and culture of Ireland award. So that’s a huge plus for the show, we were delighted to win this’’. Timmons added ‘’The 2019 show will be another two day event this year on the 29th June

(Newlands Home & Garden Center) and 30th June (Aras Chronan) and this will be our fifth year since the revival of the great and very popular community-based event that originally ran for 30 years. There is literally something for everyone and both days will have balloon making, face painting, free

Clondalkin Handcraft and Horticultural Show 2018 was a great success.

demonstrations and music so there is something for everyone! Two family fun days’’.

and we are also running free Workshops in Lucan, Tallaght and Clondalkin Libraries for Children.

The local Clondalkin Cllr concluded ‘’This show is a chance to showcase what is great about Clondalkin and our wider county. This year there is no charge for Children’s entries

We hope to announce other workshops soon in the run up to this event’’. For more information; See the Facebook page ‘Clondalkin Handcraft & Horticultural Show’.

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NOT JUST A PRINCESS REACHES FUNDING GOAL IN LESS THAN 2 HOURS!

Creator of the project, Dublin dad Gavin Leonard, is “totally overwhelmed” by the unbelievable support from the

local and global parenting community Not Just a Princess announced last year that it would launch six inclusive books aimed at empowering young girls. The Kickstarter campaign to fund the books will run for another 33 days but much to the delight of creator Gavin the project was backed in less than a day.

Gavin said: “This is the dream start to the Kickstarter campaign – we are so overwhelmed with the way people have responded to this idea and to the Not Just a Princess ethos over the last 12 months. The fact that we have reached our goal already means that parents will be reading our stories, with such strong, capable female role models, to their little girls and boys by the Summer; it is a dream come true.” The project has been backed by over 170 people who have pledged funding of more than €6,800 – almost double the target. Gavin & Jade

There is still another 4 weeks of the campaign remaining and Gavin hopes to raise more than €20,000 to ensure

that the Not Just a Princess ethos is felt around the world. Tallaght man Gavin, who started his blog in July 2017, developed the concept for Not Just a Princess after searching for empowering stories to read to his 2-yearold daughter, Jade. What he found was limited and so he decided to create his own army of princesses for his daughter. Each princess has a unique set of skills and, along with her animal sidekick, helps people to solve problems in the fictional land of ‘Wonderville’. After an unsuccessful Kickstarter campaign in 2018 Gavin was more determined than ever to bring Not Just a Princess to the world and relaunched the campaign on March 26th, 2019. Gavin said: “At Not Just a Princess we want to break down the gender barriers that face our daughters, nieces and granddaughters in nearly every walk of life. We want all girls to see themselves represented in the strong female role models that we have created in our book series. The fact that so many people from right across the globe are behind this project means so much to us and tells us that we are doing something right!” Not Just a Princess is live on Kickstarter now. To view rewards, back the project or buy the books search ‘Not Just a Princess’ on Kickstarter. com.

MORE WINNERS FOR PALMERSTOWN Members of Palmerstown Camera club continue to enter competition’s run by the Irish Photographers Federation. These competitions require that the photographer present a panel from 10 to 15 images in the genre of photography they are interested in. The images must tell a story and must be cohesive. Two of our members Suzanne Mc Mahon and Teresa Kavanagh entered such competitions in Portlaoise on Saturday the 12th of March. Suzanne received an acceptance for her panel of 10 images this means she can place LIPF after her name in the photography world. The panel is judged by 10 judges who confer between themselves. They will be looking for technical detail, sharpness of the image even the quality of the paper. But Suzanne’s images where strong and she was awarded her acceptance.

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Teresa had already got her acceptance and the next stage for her was a fellowship for this she had to produce 15 images of Genre she wanted to present which was nature she also had to write a brief story about her images. The judges went through each image talking among themselves taking each image down and inspecting them. Teresa then read her story about her images and the judges where happy to award her Fellowship. This now means in the photography world she can

now add AIPF after her name. Congratulations to both of the girls they did a fantastic job. Aidan Lawlor a member of our club visited around Palmerstown to see if he could find some interesting images, he went into the park, at Mill Lane and came across the ruins of a church. It lies deep in the undergrowth almost forgotten. The church is over 200 years old and was first recorded in 1220 as belonging to the Prior of St John The Baptist. The roof has long gone the church is surrounded by a small graveyard. The church was restored and the area cleaned up which now gives easy access. For more information see www. palmerstowncameraclub. com or on Facebook.

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TREATMENT PURCHASE FUND CRUCIAL FOR REDUCING WAITING TIMES

John Curran T.D. has said it is clear that the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) is playing a pivotal

role in the reduction of long waiting lists in health. Deputy Curran was commenting as the new

Scheduled Care Access Plan for 2019 was published. Deputy Curran explained, “Three months into 2019

TALLAGHT DRUG & ALCOHOL TASK FORCE COMMUNITY ACTION ON ALCOHOL PROJECT

Pictured at the Launch of Tallaght Local Drug and Alcohol Task Force Community Action on Alcohol project in the County Library, Tallaght, were: Cllr. Charlie O’Connor, Mary Larkin Chairperson TDATF, Grace Hill Coordinator TDATF, Dr Joe Barry who launched the report.

the Minister for Health finally publishes the Scheduled Care Access Plan 2019 to improve Acute Hospital Waiting Times and it’s clear to see that the NTPF is crucial to reducing waiting times. “The NTPF was introduced by Fianna Fáil in 2002 and over the next eight years it was very successful in tackling waiting lists and in particular reducing waiting times for procedures.

just over 70,000 now. “We believe that the Fund can be hugely important as a treatment guarantee.

The Sláintecare report points out that international experience is definitive that without enforced waiting time guarantees, waiting lists and waiting times will not come down. “There

is a lot more to be done especially in relation to the shocking outpatient figures. However it is clear that the restoration of the Fund is now bearing fruit and is reducing the huge waiting lists and times that accelerated during Leo Varadkar’s time as Minister for Health”, concluded Deputy Curran.

“Regrettably James Reilly ended the NTPF role in waiting list reduction in 2011 and his successor, as Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar also rejected Fianna Fáil’s calls for its restoration. As a result, inpatient day case waiting lists increased by almost 40 per cent during the Taoiseach’s tenure in the Department of Health. “Fianna Fáil secured the restoration of the fund in 2016 under the Confidence and Supply arrangement and ensured funding was increased substantially in 2018 and again for this year. The inpatient day case list has fallen from a high of over 86,000 in 2017 to

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IN THIS MONTH’S EDITION OF THE LOCAL PAPER ROMAINE SCALLY SOLICITOR OF ROMAINE SCALLY & COMPANY, SOLICITORS ANSWERS MORE READERS’ LEGAL QUERIES. THIS MONTH THEY CENTRE AROUND VARIOUS TYPES OF PERSONAL INJURIES AND WHETHER OR NOT CLAIMS ARISE THEREFROM. WE HOPE YOU FIND THEM HELPFUL. FURTHER QUERIES CAN BE DIRECTED TO: ROMAINE SCALLY & CO. SOLICITORS, MAIN STREET, TALLAGHT, DUBLIN 24 TEL: 01 45 99 506 FAX: 01 45 99 510 EMAIL: legal@scally.ie WEB: www.romainescally.ie Q. I took a personal injuries claim myself through the Injuries Board nearly a year ago now. I recently received notification from them that I can take my case to Court. Do I need to go to see a Solicitor now? A. You need to be very careful of the time limits once you receive your “AUTHORISATION” from the Injuries Board. It must always be remembered that you have 2 years in which to pursue an action for personal injuries from the date of that accident/ injury. Once you receive your Authorisation from the Injuries Board then you have a further 6 MONTHS from the date of the Authorisation in which to ISSUE PROCEEDINGS. You need to act quickly after you receive the Authorisation as, if you have not already been to see a Solicitor, your Solicitor may well need further information/Engineering reports/medical reports before they are in a position to issue proceedings within the relevant Court jurisdiction and thereby “STOP THE CLOCK”. It is extremely important therefore to make an appointment to see a Solicitor as soon as possible and to bring all your paperwork and information with you to ensure that he/she can pursue the matter on your behalf as speedily as possible and most importantly within the time frames set down by statute. Q. My child was bitten by a neighbour’s dog some 3 years ago. At the time, I did not do anything about it. I assumed the scar would fade. Now however, my daughter is 10 years of age and has become self-conscious about the scar on her leg. It is too late to take an action for personal injuries? A. The situation with regard to children differs from that of adult when it comes to time limits set down by the law. The 2 years’ time limit which applies to adults DOES NOT apply to children and you can take a personal injuries action on behalf of your child anytime up until the time the child reaches 18 years of age. In fact, even after the child reaches 18 years of age he/she has a further two years from their 18 birthday in which to consider pursuing a claim although we would always suggest taking a claim as soon as it becomes necessary to do so. In short therefore, you are perfectly entitled to bring a personal injuries action on behalf of your child now, some 3 years later and we would suggest that you immediately contact a Solicitor with a view to pursuing matters further on behalf of your child. Q. I took a claim myself to the Injuries Board arising out of an accident at work. I received an offer from the Injuries Board but I was not happy with it and I turned it down. I am not sure what to do next. Are there any penalties if I go to Court? A. When you turn down an offer from the Injuries Board (assuming that it is accepted by the Defendants) then, there is indeed a very severe penalty in the event that you subsequently receive an award of an amount EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN the amount of the original Injuries Board offer. What this means is that if the case subsequently proceeds to a hearing in the Courts and the Judge hearing the case decides on an award which comes to a total sum equal to or less than the offer of the Injuries Board then, you end up paying not only all of your own costs from the date of the original offer but also the costs of the Insurance Company involved. This can be a very severe penalty indeed and would be deducted from any offer which would result in a significant deductions from any award. It could end up that you would actually owe money! For that reason it is extremely important to take legal advice at every stage along the way when pursuing a claim for personal injuries. Nevermore so in deed than when an offer is being made. Your Solicitor can advise you in relation to these risks and you will be in a better position to make an informed decision regarding any offer. You have already rejected the offer at this stage so it is obviously too late to reconsider. However, you will need to go to a Solicitor to pursue the case from hereon in but he/she will obviously not have had the benefit of having advised you in relation to the original offer so there is a considerable risk for you. Nonetheless, it is obviously very important that you take legal advice as soon as possible with a view to improving your chances of a reasonable outcome.

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MOTORING LIFE WITH

Revised Škoda Fabia – Simply Fabulous. By Breda Corrigan The new Škoda Fabia Monte Carlo is all about the looks, and as a result, is adorned with bespoke exterior design elements which are headlined by stunning black alloys that match its black front grille, side skirts, front splitter and rear diffuser. Fresh New Look; In order to give the Fabia a fresh look, Škoda have endowed it with slimmer lights, rear bumper reflectors and a slightly wider grille. Changes inside are similarly minimalistic, with some different interior trims and colours, two more USB slots for back-seat passengers to use, and new graphics on the dials. Inside, you get what Škoda refers to as a “race-inspired” interior treatment, led by Monte Carlo-exclusive sport seats in an eye-catching grey and black trim, with stylish red stitching. The cabin also benefits from a flat-bottomed steering wheel, chrome sports foot pedals, and extra-dark rear window glass. . The overall feeling in the airy cabin is one of solidity, with build quality up to the usual high standards of modern-day Škoda’s. Engine & Specification Line-Up; The revised Fabia is available in four trim levels – Active, Ambition, Style, and Monte Carlo - all of which provide excellent value for money in terms of specification, practicality, spaciousness and economy. The deletion of Škoda’s old 1.4-litre diesel now makes the Fabia line-up a pure petrol one. All models now consist of 1.0-litre, three-cylinder, units producing 75bhp, 95bhp, or 110bhp, as well as an exhaust particulate filter to enhance emissions. Annual road tax will cost either €190 or €200 – depending on the engine chosen, while fuel consumption as low as 4.8l/100km is possible on an extra-urban driving cycle. A five-speed manual gearbox is available across the entire Fabia range, while a six-speed manual, and a supersmooth 7-speed DSG (automatic), are available in the top three trim levels. Body

style options consist of a traditional 5-door hatchback, or a spacious Combi (Estate) for extra practicality. Class-Leading Boot Space; The luggage compartment in the Fabia hatchback has a capacity of 330-litres, which is the largest in its segment. This volume extends to an extremely respectable 1,125-litres when the rear seats are folded. Wherever you look, you will find useful storage options, including clever compartments and convenient holders. There is even a handy umbrella located in a holder under the front passenger seat on all but the entry level specification. Test Car; My test car was a revised Škoda Fabia ‘Monte Carlo’ 5-door hatchback fitted with the VW Group’s highly acclaimed 1.0-litre TSi engine. This engine produces 110bhp and is capable of a top speed of 196km/h, while the 0-100km/h sprint can be completed in just 9.4-seconds. Škoda’s slick six-speed manual gearbox is a perfect match for this sweet-revving engine, and made the overall driving experience thoroughly enjoyable. The Monte Carlo trim, originally offered in the previous Fabia, was designed to celebrate 100 and 110 years of the Monte Carlo Rally and Škoda’s motorsport commitment respectively, and is a name that is steeped in history. Standard specification includes a 6.5” infotainment system with Bluetooth™, front fog lights, LED daytime running lights, Maxi-Dot dashboard information display, electrically adjustable and heated external door mirrors, remote central locking, 16” Italia black alloy wheels, roof spoiler (black in colour), rear parking sensors with acoustic signaling, black headliner cloth, black leather gearstick knob, and many more comfort, convenience and safety features. Optional extras fitted to my test car included a front armrest, cruise control, upgraded 17” Torino black alloy wheels,

a Comfort Pack (air-conditioning, heightadjustable front seats & light-assist), and a Panoramic Roof Pack (panoramic roof and driver-fatigue alert). Impressive Road Manners; On the road, the revised Škoda Fabia really impressed me with its wide range of abilities, which came together perfectly to provide driving confidence and sure-footed poise and agility. This is certainly one of the best cars in its class, and is testament to Škoda’s ‘Simply Clever’ philosophy.

Pricing & Warranty; Ex-works prices for the revised Škoda Fabia 5-door hatchback range from just €16,200 to €22,900 and represent excellent value for money, especially when you consider the standard specification, practicality, fun factor and top-class driving dynamics on offer. The load-lugging ‘Combi’ bodystyle carries a premium of just €745 across the entire model and engine range. Škoda’s comprehensive 3-year/150,000km warranty, 3-year roadside assistance, and 12-year body perforation warranty ensure total peace-of-mind ownership.

Fact Box 1) Stylish & Dynamic Design 2) Four Trim Levels 3) Frugal Petrol Engines 4) Manual or Automatic 5) Priced From Just €16,200 (ex-works).

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MERCEDES-BENZ PREMIERES SEVEN MODELS

Six world premieres and one show premiere took centre stage on the Mercedes-Benz stand at the Geneva Motor Show recently. Six new models got their world premiere and they shot the brake version of the sporty CLA Coupé and a facelifted GLC midsize SUV. Others were a Formula E showcar,

ahead of the first foray into the sport by the Mercedes EQ division. Alongside these were a Concept V-Class and two highperformance AMG models a GLE 53 SUV and GT R Roadster. The facelift 300d V-Class MPV also made an appearance which arrives in Ireland later this year.

The new facelift V-Class MPV one of the models that shared centre stage on the Mercedes-Benz stand.

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OVER 40% NOW FACING LONGER COMMUTES THAN THEY DID IN ‘18 Almost half of Irish motorists are spending longer on commuting to work or their place of education than they were last year, a recent survey has found. In response to an AA Car Insurance survey of over 2,500 Irish drivers, 30.14% of those surveyed indicated that they now spend more time on their commute to and from work than they were 12 months ago. Meanwhile, a further 16.19% stated that this was somewhat true of their current commute, depending largely on traffic levels. Meanwhile, the survey also found indicators of a growing reliance on the private car, with 20.50% of respondents stating that they were more likely to use a car for their morning commute than they would have been 12 months ago. “In recent years we have seen a slow return to Boom-time traffic levels and, as a result of growing congestion, rising house prices in urban areas, and a growing rental crisis many people are having to move further and further away from their place of employment. As a result, the average commute time appears to be on the rise, while a lack of alternatives continues to leave many people reliant on the private car to get around,” Conor Faughnan, AA Director of Consumer Affairs stated. “However, if you are to look at these findings in the context of the government’s wider climate

change obligations, it highlights the need to improve the availability of reliable alternatives to the car across the country.” While the survey indicated that car reliance was on the rise among respondents, it also found that motorists were willing to switch to public transport if they felt it was reliable. When asked about their commuting habits, 34.76% of those surveyed strongly agreed that a lack of reliable public transport had left them reliant on a car to get to work, even though they would prefer not to use their car. Meanwhile, a further 14.13% indicated that they were somewhat in agreement with this prompt. “The simple message here is that where you supply a dependable public transport service then people are more than willing to use it. However, due to a history of underinvestment in this space – particularly when you look at rural areas – many people who would be willing to use public transport are forced to look to the private car to get to and from work and contribute to the economy,” Faughnan added. “At this point, the government must decide if they are willing to commit to supply people across the country with alternatives to their car. If not, then they cannot continue to punish people through extortionate taxation on petrol and diesel for having to drive to and from work.”

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STRIKING STUDENTS ARE LEADING THE WAY ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Dublin South West TD, Seán Crowe, has congratulated all those students who went on strike to highlight the need for greater action on climate change. The TD said the number of Irish students striking across the country was in the tens of thousands and it delivered a clear and powerful message to the Government that Ireland’s inaction on climate change won’t be tolerated by our younger generation. Deputy Seán Crowe said: “This direct action taken by students all across our country should send a very clear signal to Ministers in Government that younger

people have recognised the critical issues facing their generation, have decided to act, and to make their voices heard. “As future voters, but more importantly those who will inherit the climate conditions in the future, they have every right to inform this Government about what direction they want to see Government policy moving towards. The global student strike which was called by the 16 year old schoolgirl Greta Thunberg, who began striking outside the Swedish Parliament last August, has gathered incredible momentum internationally.

“Students from schools all across Ireland joined the global Schools Strike for Climate Action. Marches were organised in Dublin and Cork and there were events outside local authority offices in counties from Kerry to Donegal and Meath to Galway. “Fridays for Future, School Strikes 4 Climate, and the Schools’ Climate Action Network were the three studentdriven networks of young people in Ireland, whose schools support them in their decision to strike for action on climate action. “On 6 March I met a group of 40 students from around

LOCAL ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATIONS

Ireland in Leinster House to discuss their demands with TDs and Senators at a briefing hosted by my

colleague Senator Máire Devine in advance of the strike.“I applaud these students for taking such a

stand and leading from the front, we now need to see that support turned into action by the Government.”

APPRENTICESHIPS MUST BE ATTRACTIVE, ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE

John Curran T.D. has said the ambitious apprenticeship policy published by Fianna Fáil (FF) will make apprenticeships in Ireland attractive, accessible and affordable. Deputy Curran was commenting as FF launched a policy document which would modernise the apprenticeship system in Ireland. Deputy Curran explained, “Contained in this document is a number of proposals including increasing the number of women taking part in apprenticeships, increasing apprenticeships in public organisations and technology companies, and opening regional apprenticeship offices. “We believe these proposals will bring Ireland in line with best practice when it comes to apprenticeships in the rest of Europe. At the moment we are lagging far behind Britain in the scale and diversity of apprenticeships currently offered here. “In my own area of Dublin Mid-West apprenticeships should offer students a real alternative to further education and entry into the work force. “In 2018 the Government only managed to hit a quarter of its modest apprenticeship targets while in 2017 it managed only 4 in 10. The Restaurant Association of Ireland (RAI) says the acute shortage of chefs is

widening by at least 3,200 annually and the construction sector is experiencing a serious skills shortage, with the country in the depths of a housing crisis, this simply isn’t good enough. “The most pressing issue of all in this area is the need to rebalance the number of women taking part in apprenticeships. In 2018 less than 5% of apprenticeships were undertaken by women, compared with over half in the UK. The bursary currently in place is clearly not enough. Adequate supports must be facilitated, including with State training agencies to move towards parity at much greater speed. “The apprenticeship system in Ireland needs to be brought into the 21st century. That means harnessing government departments such as the HSE, the OPW, the Department of Foreign Affairs and others to provide these places. “It means developing apprenticeship offices that people can visit to learn about the opportunities which are available to them. It means ensuring that companies which offer apprenticeships in other jurisdictions such as Facebook, Amazon, and Google do the same in Ireland. These proposals and more are in our policy document,” concluded Deputy Curran.

NOVENAS FOR LAURA LYNN MIRACLE PRAYER Dear Heart of Jesus in the past I have asked for many favours. This time I ask you for a very special one. Take it, dear Heart of Jesus, and place it within your own broken heart where your Father sees it. Then in His merciful eyes it will become your favour and not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for three days. Promise publication and favour will be granted no matter how impossible. Never known to fail. Special mention to the United Hearts of Jesus and Mary for great favour witness received. A.Mc.C

MIRACLE PRAYER Dear Heart of Jesus in the past I have asked for many favours. This time I ask you for a very special one. Take it, dear Heart of Jesus, and place it within your own broken heart where your Father sees it. Then in His merciful eyes it will become your favour and not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for three days. Promise publication and favour will be granted no matter how impossible. Never known to fail. Special mention to the United Hearts of Jesus and Mary for great favour witness received. N.K

As our regular readers will know we have asked for your generosity in supporting very worthy charities over the years. Going forward, we are delighted to support Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice. LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice provides palliative care to children with life-limiting conditions and their families, from the point of diagnosis to end of life, and throughout bereavement. It costs €5.2million to keep LauraLynn’s Children’s Hospice open, €3.5million of which must be generated each year through fundraised income. Since opening in 2011, LauraLynn has cared for more than 325 children and their families and provided more than 265,000 hours of short stay care provided to children in LauraLynn Hospice. For further information please visit lauralynn.ie. If you would like a Novena published please send a postal order or cheque (Minimum of €10 per prayer) made out to Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice, along with your Novena to: NEWSGROUP, Unit 3 Floor 2 St Dominics Shopping Centre, St Dominics Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24. If you require any further information please call 01 45 19 000 or email or email info@newsgroup.ie.

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